male announcer: chicago ushers in the holiday season with spectacular fireworks, festive floats, balloons, musical performances. get ready as we light more than 1 million lights. - happy holidays, everybody, and welcome to the bmo harris bank magnificent mile lights festival. i'm cheryl burton. - and i'm alan krashesky. we're joined by janet davies and tanja babich and more than 1 million chicagoans. welcome to all of you watching around the country. - we are here on the magnificent mile for the next hour and what a night it is going to be. - we're kicking off the holiday season with celebrities, marching bands, lighted floats, music, disney friends, fireworks, and santa. - of course, and to kick it all off, the cast of chicago's longest running broadway musical and there's only eight weeks left to see the show here in chicago. joined by more than 350 local performers,

please welcome the cast of "million dollar quartet." [playing chuck berry's "run rudolph run"] ♪ - ♪ out of all the reindeer, you know you're the mastermind ♪ ♪ run, run, rudolph, randall's way too far behind ♪ - ♪ run, run, rudolph, santa's got to make it to town ♪ ♪ can't you make him hurry? ♪ ♪ tell him he can take the freeway down ♪ ♪ run, run, rudolph ♪ i'm reelin' like a merry-go-round ♪ - ♪ said santa to a girl child ♪ what would please you most to get? ♪ ♪ a little baby doll that can cry, sleep, drink, and wet ♪ ♪ and away went rudolph whizzing like a sabre jet ♪ - ♪ said santa to a boy child ♪ what have you been longing for? ♪

♪ well, all i want for christmas ♪ ♪ is a rock and roll electric guitar ♪ ♪ ♪ then away went rudolph whizzing like a shooting star ♪ ♪ yeah all: ♪ run, run, rudolph santa's got to make it to town ♪ ♪ can't you make him hurry ♪ ♪ tell him he can take the freeway down ♪ ♪ run, run, rudolph reeling like a merry-go-round ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] [upbeat music] announcer: season's greetings from chicago. it's the bmo harris bank magnificent mile lights festival with performances from "the girl and the dreamcatcher" featuring dove cameron and ryan mccartan, michelle branch, charles perry, lazaro arbos, max, the cast of "white christmas," anthony kearns, the uso show troupe, plus mickey mouse, minnie mouse, the arrival of santa claus, and much more.

♪ - [laughs] - and thank you to million dollar quartet and to our huge cast. - yes. - wow, what an opening. well, the parade has just made its way down the route. we are just about ready to illuminate the magnificent mile. - and always with tradition for 22 years now, mickey mouse and minnie mouse are here to light the lights on michigan avenue. - and it's that time once again, so take it away, mickey. - is everybody ready to light the lights? then we'll all count down from five to one and yell "happy holidays!" five, four, three, two, one, "happy holidays!" great job, gang. [cheers and applause] [upbeat music] ♪

(alan) and that is a beautiful sight. we certainly just experienced some extra magic here on the magnificent mile. yeah, disney really knows how to light up this holiday season in an unforgettable way. (cheryl) it is gorgeous. mickey and minnie are shining in their christmas best to remind us that there's no better place for making family history and enjoying unforgettable experiences than at the disney parks. (alan) and it sure is great to see them here in chicago. and now here are some of the leaders responsible for today's festivities, including one founder of the lights festival, marc schulman, alongside john mccarthy, the chair of the magnificent mile association. so let's get a word now from jim grillo and daniel thomas, the lights festival co-chairs. - the 24th annual bmo harris bank magnificent mile lights festival kicks off the holiday season for the nation right here on chicago's magnificent mile. - thank you to all of those that have joined us here

and at home to help us light our beautiful district. - this tradition couldn't happen without our city and state partners, and our hundreds of volunteers from the magnificent mile association. - so come and experience the lights and all that the magnificent mile has to offer this holiday season, and be sure to shop for everyone on your list. both: happy holidays. (alan) thanks, jim and daniel. happy holidays to you. the shedd aquarium is dedicated to animal care, public education, and conservation, is here with shedd staff members and volunteers, and yes, they are guiding along the jolly the penguin balloon. 32,000 animals call shedd aquarium home. (cheryl) and during the holidays, penguins are marching and belugas are singing at shedd's festive aquatic show. there is no better place to feel jolly. shedd is spreading the cheer this holiday season. this and many of the balloons in tonight's parade were produced by star bound entertainment of new castle, pennsylvania. (alan) i think jolly the penguin is well dressed, that's for sure, for our weather here.

now from tokyo to chicago, japanese retailer and the new kid on the block, uniqlo is showcasing some of their apparel in an array of colors. uniqlo is on the water tower float--as you can see--this year as a nod to the history of their new home in the water tower district of chicago, and they're proud to be bringing a bit of japanese culture to chicago in an interesting way. - [singing "my grown up christmas list"] (cheryl) appearing on the float is a performer who sang his way into the hearts of everyone as a finalist on the 12th season of "american idol." it's lazaro arbos. he is currently working on his new album which comes out next year. ♪ well, i'm all grown up now ♪ ♪ and still need help somehow ♪ i'm not a child but my heart still can dream ♪ ♪ so here's my lifelong wish ♪ ♪ my grown up christmas list ♪ not for myself but for a world in need ♪

[applause] ♪ no more lives torn [cheers and applause] [drumming] (alan) lazaro arbos, thanks so much for stopping by. now, look who's coming here. it's the lorain high school titans marching band. now, they hail from ohio on the shores of lake erie there, and they perform at various parades, numerous community events, football games, festivals. every two years, the band journeys down to florida to perform at walt disney world. (cheryl) great fun, and next saturday, the titans band will be back home to perform at the "light up lorain holiday celebration." the band is looking forward to next fall when they will be attending school in the brand new, state of the art lorain high school. [playing "sleigh ride"] ♪ (alan) we've just got started here on the magnificent mile. lots more to come. ♪ announcer: coming up, "white christmas,"

tenor anthony kearns, and later michelle branch, santa claus, and a finale with fantastic fireworks. book your holiday hotel stay along the magnificent mile. specialty shopping packages available year-round. for full listings, visit themagnificentmile.com.

i want to be able to impact a community, to reach back to where i came from, and pull some people up with me. my name is david, and i am your dividend. - welcome back to the magnificent mile, and the holiday season has come to drury lane theatre with its production of irving berlin's "white christmas the musical." now, you know it's the story of two former army buddies

who turn broadway stars. they follow a sister act that goes to a charming vermont inn to perform. now, in an effort to save the inn, the duos team to put on a festive show that is packed with irving berlin favorites. the show runs at drury lane through january 3, 2016, and now to perform two classics from irving berlin's "white christmas the musical" are rob riddle and leryn turlington. [playing "white christmas"] both: ♪ i'm dreaming of a white christmas ♪ ♪ with every christmas card i write ♪ ♪ may your days be merry and bright ♪ ♪ and may all your christmases ♪ be white

[playing "i've got my love to keep me warm"] ♪ the snow is snowin' the wind is blowin' ♪ ♪ but i can weather the storm ♪ what do i care how much it may storm? ♪ ♪ i've got my love to keep me warm ♪ [cheers and applause] (alan) the cast of "white christmas" and our friends at drury lane theatre. now here come our friends at bmo harris bank, the primary sponsor of this lights festival for the tenth year in a row, and they are continuing the tradition of handing out mittens to children in the crowd tonight. with a deep history rooted across north america, bmo's here to help. in fact, over 200 volunteered for this event today. and riding there on bmo's community float are individuals and families that help make our community a better place. there's bmo harris bank executive lucino sotelo and his family and also special guests

from instituto del progreso latino, including mirna t. holton and the family of president and ceo, juan salgado. (cheryl) also joining lucino are representatives from the chicago police and fire departments, as well as current and veteran members of the armed services. bmo would like to thank our servicemen and women for all they do to serve our country and wish them a wonderful holiday season. (alan) all right, here comes the garrett popcorn shops holiday float, entitled "brightin the holidays." those classic signature stripes guaranteeing garrett, and they're dressed up in holiday style, that's for sure. the float features a festive 20-foot tall, red and green signature striped tin. you can see it there, and onboard there, the chefs are handcrafting garrett popcorn's secret family caramel crisp recipe in those old-fashioned copper kettles, the same way garrett does in shops throughout each day. (cheryl) watch as light, fluffy clouds of garrett popcorn fall from the sky. let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. a chicago tradition since 1949, every small batch

of garrett popcorn is handmade throughout the day using only the highest quality ingredients. (alan) i think i can smell it from here, cheryl. smells great, huh? (cheryl) yummy. (alan) okay, now it's it's iheart radio's myfm, chicago's christmas music station along with their friends from entenmann's, and this year's float combines two favorites for all chicagoans. you've got holiday music and sweet baked goods too. (cheryl) when myfm isn't playing your favorite holiday music, you can hear chicago's best music variety. it's chicago's new myfm and entenmann's. everybody's got a favorite. well, here comes chip 'n' dale. they are visiting us from disney parks where moments take on extra magic. our disney friends want us to share all that is new at the walt disney world resort in florida. (janet) there's no better place for making family history and enjoying unforgettable experiences than at the walt disney world resort, because unforgettable happens here.

moments take on extra magic at all four not-to-be-missed theme parks. at disney's animal kingdom theme park, experience the magic of nature as you encounter wild creatures, thrilling rides, and world-class disney entertainment. drop into disney's hollywood studios and catch some great rides, like star tours-- the adventures continue. meet up with your favorite disney junior pals at disney junior-- live on stage! and join "frozen" friends in an enchanting sing-along celebration retelling of the kingdom's tale. at epcot, take a high octane spin on test track and discover wonder and imagination around the world. and don't miss the magic kingdom park with six lands of fantasy, fun, and enchantment, because it's the most magical place on earth. beyond the theme parks, you'll want to visit two water parks and check out disney springs, featuring shopping, waterfront dining, and entertainment. visit disneyworld.com/unforgettable for details. (alan) all right, janet, thank you, and chip 'n' dale and all their friends are riding chicago trolley & double decker. you know, this is one of the city's

most popular attractions here in chicago. you see they have their famous red and green trolleys throughout the city-- multi-colored here of course this evening, and the double-decker buses providing tours of chicago to millions of visitors and locals every single year. [playing "we three kings"] (alan) yeah, coming up to the corner of happy and healthy, we find walgreens. walgreens is the nation's largest drugstore chain. two stores here on the magnificent mile, including the new flagship store in the historic wrigley building. occupying corners like these helps carry out their mission, which is to be america's most-loved pharmacy-led health, well-being, and beauty retailer. (cheryl) performing "we three kings" is someone who is recognized as one of the world's finest tenors--anthony kearns. he has performed all over the world and is a member of the popular singing group, the irish tenors. - ♪ guide us to thy perfect light ♪ [crowd cheering] ♪ born a king on bethlehem plain ♪

♪ gold i bring to crown him again ♪ ♪ king forever ceasing never ♪ ♪ over us all to reign ♪ oh, oh [cheers and applause] (alan) thank you, anthony. so great to hear. and now, navy pier presenting the head elf in charge, and santa's right hand man, it's butterscotch the elf. wonderfest returns to navy pier on december 5 through january 10, 2016, with more than 24 rides and attractions, 170,000 square feet of entertainment for all ages, and some of the new attractions this year include the polar extreme, the interactive arctic peaks climbing walls, and an expanded winter rules mini golf course sure to offer frozen holiday fun. (cheryl) navy pier is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2016 with a special lineup of events and attractions to commemorate the milestone including the return of tall ships chicago

and the louis vuitton america's cup world series chicago. (alan) all right, now let's go down to the street and tanja babich; hi, tanja. (tanja) hi, alan. coming down the avenue now is the central alabama all star marching band, and i am so thrilled to be joined by chef graham elliott and his family. hello and welcome to the magnificent mile lights fest. you and your wife have the successful graham elliot bistro in the west loop. you have a new cookbook, if you want to hold it up for us. i had a look through it, it looks wonderful. now, do you have plans to bring another graham elliot concept to chicago? - [inaudible] doing something at the airport, so a little grab-and-go, something fast and casual. yeah. - okay, you said in the airport? - in the airport, yeah, exactly. - and what kind of grab-and-go? - so you know, like, pre-done salad, sandwiches, homemade sodas, and then we'd also like to do something actually on a bigger scale here on michigan avenue. - great. thank you all so much. - yeah. - we appreciate it, and we are coming back in just a little bit

with more from the magnificent mile and the bmo harris bank lights festival. [marching band playing] announcer: coming up, performances from charles perry, michelle branch, and more spectacular floats, bands, and disney friends. the magnificent mile is home to popular brands from around the world. explore the latest unique flagship experiences and shop exclusive merchandise. for full listings, visit themagnificentmile.com.

[holiday music playing] ♪ [cheers and applause] - as we kick off the holidays with the lighting of trees along magnificent mile, i'd like to wish you and your family a joyous time this holiday season. - here's wishing you and your family a jolly good time this holiday season. - from all of us here at "the chew"-- - here's wishing everyone along the magnificent mile-- - happy holidays. - and a prosperous new year. all: cheers! - i'm lennon stella. - and i'm maisy stella. - from our nashville family to yours-- - have a very happy holiday season. - here's wishing everyone on the magnificent mile happy holidays. - from all of us here at "the view"... all: happy holidays!

- season's greetings to you and your family during this joyous holiday season. - hello everyone watching the magnificent mile lights festival in chicago. - kelly and michael here wishing you lots of joy and tons of fun this holiday season. - so many of our friends stopping by, right? - i know. - oh, it's great to have you with us too, and we want to say thanks as well to the south shore drill team. - yeah. - welcome back to michigan avenue, one of the most magnificent avenues in the world. i'm alan krashesky. - and i'm cheryl burton. so let's head back down to the street to check out our next float in the parade, all right? - all right, let's do that, cheryl, here we go. now purring down michigan avenue is a first year participant, blue buffalo's fabulous feline float featuring verve record's newest artist, charles perry, and he's singing, appropriately, "ev'rybody wants to be a cat" from the "we love disney" album. - blue buffalo is a natural pet food company and offers a full line of natural foods and treats for dogs and cats. - ♪ every time he plays ♪ [humming] ♪ with a square in the act

♪ you can set music back to the caveman days ♪ - ♪ e-e-everybody - ♪ everybody wants to be a cat ♪ - ♪ wants to be a cat - ♪ because a cat's the only cat who knows where it's at ♪ - ♪ who knows where it's at ♪ - ♪ everybody's pickin' up on that feline beat ♪ - ♪ feline beat ♪ because everybody wants to be a cat ♪ - ♪ be a cat - ♪ ha, ha, hee - ♪ be a cat [cheers and applause] (cheryl) ha ha ha! (alan) all right, everybody wants to be a cat. we've got some cool cats here too, because here comes the abc 7 float and it's nothing short of spectacular. floating down the avenue cloaked as a whimsical, winter wonderland scene, it features the station's colors of blue and white, twirling striped and polka dot presents, and of course, the warm lights too. (cheryl) just perfect, and of course, adding to the holiday magic, the "abc 7 news" team featuring ron magers, kathy brock, judy hsu, dionne miller, ben bradley, sarah schulte, and cheryl scott.

abc 7 is the number-one news station in the town and the most watched television station in chicago. (alan) ah, so great to see our friends here. that's terrific. now, next up, roaring down the magnificent mile is hubert t. lion, who's been a very familiar face in chicago for nearly 60 years now. (cheryl) standing just over 35 feet tall, it takes more than 20 bmo harris employee volunteers to help guide him down the magnificent mile. (alan) looks like they're doing a fine job too. little bit of winds along the way, but hubert t. is carrying it straight on through. you know, spreading miles of holiday smiles, bmo harris believes strongly in giving back to the communities and they consider themselves people first and bankers second. and this year, bmo harris has invited representatives and their families from the uso-chicago, ymca urban warriors, chicago urban league, and the ronald mcdonald house charities. (cheryl) bmo wants to extend a special welcome to four-year-old hannah. hannah is cal's angels' wish participant,

who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. she is joined onboard with her parents and siblings eli and ella. (alan) oh, it sure is great to have hannah there, riding along with everybody on that double-decker bus. isn't that terrific? (cheryl) but did you know that chicago trolley & double decker has a holiday lights tour? it's a tradition for families and couples to explore the holiday-themed lights of the city, lincoln park zoo lights, and the christkindlmarket. (alan) right, the christkindlmarket. that's the german themed christmas holiday shopping area we have in downtown chicago this time of year. (cheryl) festive activities. (alan) come to chicago and check it out. all right, here-- we're gonna have up next chicagoland's own lifeway foods, the nation's probiotic kefir leader. joining the lights festival for the very first time, lifeway keeps the parade and your digestive system moving with the good bugs found in their delicious kefir products. they have a wide variety of delicious probiotic beverages and frozen treats as well. so they say there's a lifeway product

for every member of your family any time of day. (cheryl) it's good to know, because we'll be eating lots of food this holiday season, because lifeway kefir is the perfect way to stay healthy when you're busy traveling and entertaining this holiday season. lifeway foods proudly supports childhood nutrition education programs, locally and nationally. (alan) yeah, always important to make sure kids have knowledge and access to healthy food and meals along the way. all right, taking off down the magnificent mile, southwest airline's flight brigade. more than 50 southwest airlines employees here representing all their work groups at the airline's midway operation, so they're walking down the magnificent mile this evening. each person of course at southwest playing a pivotal role in connecting the customers with what's important to them as they're flying to or from the airline's busiest operation, which is right here in chicago. (cheryl) well, the airline offers an average of 260 daily departures to nearly 70 destinations including montego bay, jamaica, punta cana, dominican republic, and cancun, mexico.

we'd like to go there today, wouldn't we, alan? check out their low fares online only at southwest.com. (alan) you know, you got me thinking warm weather there for a moment, cheryl, but i tell you what, there's nothing like chicago weather for celebrating the holidays. brookfield zoo now presenting holiday magic. see the lights, feel the magic, continue this tradition. brookfield zoo's float inspired by the experiences that you'll have during the zoo's annual holiday magic event throughout december. (cheryl) this giant polar bear in the center represents all the animals you will meet during holiday magic, including polar bears, reindeers, and snow leopards, and the lighted trees on the side of the float showcase all of the beautifully decorated trees you can see when you connect with nature at the zoo's park-like setting. brookfield zoo's float is also accompanied by giant holiday light bulbs, representing the over 1 million twinkling l.e.d. lights. (alan) up next, the kelly high school marching trojans. they have a rich tradition of exceptional performance within the chicago public school system,

and members of this group are also active in other musical endeavors like the concert band, the jazz band, and the chorus too. (cheryl) and over the years, this band has received several honors superior and superior ratings at citywide and statewide competitions. the band students are happy to represent chicago as part of the magnificent mile lights festival. (alan) all right, kelly high. well, let's head down to the street and janet davies. hi, janet. - hi, alan. broadway in chicago has two great productions coming up this season. hey, the wait is over. "the lion king"-- disney's "the lion king" triumphantly returns for a seven-week engagement at the cadillac palace theatre december 2nd through january 17th. plus the first national tour of "beautiful the carole king musical" will play the oriental theatre december 1st through february 21st. and now, here are two holiday greetings from the casts of these wonderful productions. - [speaking swahili]

do you understand? well, i'll just say it. from all of us with "the lion king," we wish you a joyous holiday season. hakuna matata. - i am so happy to be back home in chicago for the holidays. the first national tour of "beautiful the carole king musical" sends you all the love in our hearts at this joyous time. may you have a smile on your face as bright as the lights on the magnificent mile. all: have a beautiful holiday season. see you soon in chicago. announcer: when we come back, the u.s.o. show troupe, and max presented by radio disney. plus, a finale with "the girl and the dreamcatcher," featuring dove cameron and ryan mccartan, and fireworks. walking among beautiful gardens and landmark architecture is the way to truly experience north michigan avenue and lovely surrounding neighborhoods including the city's popular new riverwalk. - what a special night here in chicago.